Ive held off reviewing this place for a while as i feel im a little impartial as i work here once a week as part of the Sexual Health Outreach Counselling and Psychotherapy (what was the counselling arm of Healthy Gay Life).
As you walk through the front doors there is a cafe on the left - ive never been in but they have specials on a board outside and the thought of them always makes my mouth water - unfortunately they are closed when i tend to visit in the evenings. On the right as you go in is a large notice board with LOADS of info - events going on, people needing flatmates...all manner of stuff! You have to press a buzzer to get inside to reception which can seem a little off-putting but this is purely to help the clientele feel safe and sound.
Once inside there always tends to be a few people milling around reception - all of the reception staff i have met are wonderfully friendly and try to put you at ease immediately. Downstairs there are consulting rooms - Healthy Gay Life offer sexual screening there during the week - and there is a big room (not been into it yet) where different groups meet - there is a line dancing group and a running group for example. Upstairs there is a further meeting room and counselling room as well as the staff facilities.
Groups that meet at the centre vary but i taste of some are the Be Glad group (supporting people with depression). a prostate cancer support group, Brum Bi group, LGBTQ narcotics Anonymous, alcohol support group, trans support groups and many, many others.
It truly is a gem of a facility for the LGBT community and the management team are passionate about what they do. A bloody marvellous resource!! read more
